Knitting-machine needle



May 18, 1948. J. FONTAINE KNITTING-MACHINE NEEDLE Filed Jan. 22, 1945 IN V EN TOR. JACK FONTAINE AT TORNEYS Patented May 18, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE KNITTING-MACHINE NEEDLE Jack Fontaine, Cleveland Heights, Ohio Application January 22, 1945, Serial No. 573,946

2 Claims.

This invention relates to knitting-machine needles, and it is among the objects of the invention to provide a construction which is simple and sturdy, and capable of being made up in various gage sizes. Other objects and advantages will appear from the following description.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention comprises the features of construction set out in the following description, the annexed drawings and the accompanying description including but a few of the various forms in which the principle of the invention may be employed.

In said annexed drawings- Fig. 1 is a view of a needle embodying the invention, in side elevation, the portion overlying the inner mechanism being broken away to show the latter more clearly; and

Figs. 2 and 3 are similar views of modifications.

In general, the needle comprises a shank or body 2, Fig. 1, with a hook 3 at its end, and cooperating therewith is a closing element or lever 4 pivoted at 5 to the shank, preferably in a groove therein. The other end of the lever provides an operating abutment against which a reciprocating member 1 may operate to thrust the lever and 4 into closing position with the hook 3, as shown in dotted lines in Fig, 1. From the abutment, the end of the lever extends in rebent form in suitable dimension as a spring '8 in the groove tending to urge the lever into open position, as shown in full lines in Fig. 1.

These needles may be mounted in a gang in a lead holding block or in clamping means, as

well known in the art, for axial reciprocation of 35 the feed of the yarn loop, and, forming and casting oil of the stitch, in the generally known manner.

Instead of having the spring integral with the closing element or lever, the spring may be separate as at 8a, Fig. 2, suitably fastened at its end H! in the groove of the needle body and bearing at its free end against the lower end of the lever 40,. Acting in the opposite direction upon the lower end of the lever is an actuator I l slidably mounted in the groove of the needle body and having a camming end It to co-act with the lever as it is reciprocated up and down. Such reciprocatory movement may be imparted by a suitable driven member l3. With this form of construction, as the actuator II is reciprocated up and down in the groove, it alternately rides against and releases the end of the lever, thus closing and opening it, the spring 80. tending to urge it into open position.

Instead of a. reciprocatory actuator as just described, the actuator Hb, Fig. 3, may be pivoted in the groove at I5, to be oscillated by a member To suitably reciprocated into contact. The free end 12b of the actuator Hb again bears against the end of the closing element or lever so as to throw its upper end into closing position, while the spring 8b, similarly as in Fig. 2, tends to urge the lever into open position.

Throughout, my construction has the advantages of positive operation instead of depending upon the yarn, and with the inclusion of a spring element there is a uniformity of action irrespective of general vibration to which knitting-machines are subject.

Other modes of applying the principles of the invention may be employed, change being made as regards the details described, provided the features stated in any of the following claims or the equivalent of such be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. In knitting-machine needles having a grooved body with a hook at one end, a closing lever having one of its ends cooperating with the hook and pivoted in the groove of the body, an

operating abutment at the other end of said lever integral therewith and thence rebent to a spring riding in the groove and urging said lever into 0 open position.

Number Name Date 51,115 Lamb Nov. 21, 1865 52,256 Armour Jan. 30, 1866 61,630 Miller Jan. 29, 1867 1,163,296 Williams Dec. '7, 1915 2,399,308 Amidon Apr. 30, 1946 2,403,961 Amidon July 16, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 315,185 Great Britain July 11, 1929 :2. In knitting-machine needles having a grooved body with a hook at one end, a closing lev-er having one of its ends cooperating with the hook end pivoted in the groove of the body, and

spring means integral with the other end of said lever and riding in the groove for urging said lever into open position.

JACK FONTAINE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

